The newest residence hall composting initiative needs active support from the UNC community.
After a failed effort last year, the Environmental Affairs Committee remodeled the project to improve organization and oversight. Now partnered with the Residence Hall Association, the committee is in the process of distributing compost bins to interested students in four residence halls.
Of several attempts throughout recent years to get students involved in composting, this one shows the highest chance of success. The four residence halls involved in this pilot effort were selected based on an interest poll.
Previous efforts were unsuccessful in part because residence halls were not selected based on interest. Now, students who are most passionate about composting are the first to get the opportunity to take part in the program.
The compost is taken to the Carolina Campus Community Garden, where it helps grow produce for University housekeepers.
Thus, in addition to its environmental benefits, this program allows residents to give back to the housekeeping staff and helps instill a sense of community.
However, this initiative could be ephemeral. It only came into existence because of an initial grant and does not yet have continuous funding. It is imperative students participate in it to show that not only can it be a success, but also demonstrate it’s important to the student community.
This initiative could benefit the University for years to come, but not without reliable funding and support. Any student interested in a composting program in his or her residence hall should approach their Community Government to encourage the expansion of the program.
Ideally, compost bins will soon be included in each room and become a standard component of RHA’s budget.
